Sweeper



Jan. 21, 1941. w WAGNER 2,229,229

SWEEPER Filed Oct. 51, 1938 3 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR I ROBERT W.WAGNER BY 0 5 c' ,c 3% M096 I ATTORNEYS Jan. 21, 1941. R. w. WAGNER SWEEPER 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 31 1938 INVENTOR RORT w. WAGNER ATTORNEY Jam 21, .R. w. WAGNER 2,229,229

SWEEPER Filed Oct. 31, 1938 3 Sheets-Shem, s

I I INVENTOR ROBERT W. WAGNER BY W i A TToRNEYs Patented Jan. 21, 1941 UNITED STATES SWEEPER Robert W. Wagner, Detroit, Mich., assignor to Detroit Harvester Company, Detroit, Mich., a corporation of Michigan Application October 31, 1938, Serial No. 238,007

11 Claims.

The invention relates to sweepers and has for its primary object the obtaining of a construction utilizing a power unit which is also adapted for other uses, such for instance as for operating a power mower. To this end the invention consists in the novel construction as hereinafter set forth.

In the drawings:

Figure l is a side elevation of my improved sweeper illustrating only diagrammatically the power unit;

Figure 2 is a plan view, partly in section;

Figure 3 is a front elevation of a portion of the drive mechanism;

Figure 4 is an enlarged sectional plan view of a portion of the drive mechanism;

Figure 5 is a-vertical section partly in elevation of a pivotal connection beween the beam and frame;

Figure 6 is a sectional elevation, showing the manner of mounting the gearing upon the detachable frame;

Figure '7 is a perspective view of the sweeper and power unit.

The specific construction of the power unit forms no part of my invention, but as shown A is a rectangular frame formed of channel bars mounted on an axle having a single pair of ground supporting wheels A. A is the motor mounted on this frame and from which power is transmitted through suitable connecting means, not fully shown, to drive the wheels A. There is also a sprocket B concentric with the axle. from which rotary power may be transmitted to the mechanism to be driven. The construction just described is only one form of power unit and it is obvious that any other suitable construction, such as diagrammatically represented in Figure 2, may be used in place thereof. The unit is further provided with a handle frame A detachably bolted to the channel side bars of the frame A and extending upward and rearward therefrom. Upon this handle frame are mounted the controls for the motor which need not be described in detail.

C is a forwardv extension of the frame which is substantially V-shaped in plan having parallel side portions C for fitting into the channel sides of the frame A and also the obliquely extending portion C This forward extension is secured to the frame A by bolts D so that it can be easily assembled therewith. The obliquely extending portions C are offset downwardly as indicated at C thereby bringing these portions into a lower horizontal plane.

E is a beam pivotally attached to the center forward portion of the frame C, so as to permit of angular adjustment between the limits imposed by the oblique portions of said frame. This beam is also preferably formed of a channel bar and is attached to the frame 0, preferably by top and bottom plates F and F. These are rigidly connected to the beam and embrace the center portion of the frame C to which they are attached by a pivot pin F This pin is 10 preferably tubular so as to form a swivel socket for the shank G of a caster wheel G. The beam E is further connected to the frame C by a semicircular bar H arranged concentric with the pivot pin F This bar passes through apertures H in the web of the depressedportion of the frame C, and the opposite ends of said bar are attached to the web of the beam E by suitable means, such as the screw threaded studs H and nuts H The bar H also forms a means for looking the beam E in different positions of an gular adjustment with respect to the frame C, and to this end a plurality of apertures H in the bar are alternatively registrable with an aperture in one of the oblique portions C so as to permit of securing by a coupling pin H Extending parallel to the beam E and pivotally mounted thereupon is a rockshaft I. The opposite ends of this rockshaft have secured thereto rock arms J extending horizontally to embrace the rotary brush K.- This brush has stub shafts K at its opposite ends which are journaled in bearings J at the free ends of the rock arms J. Near the center of the shaft is a rearwardly extending rock arm L which is used for rocking the shaft to lift the brush out of contact with the pavement when not in operation. A rearward extension F of the plate F has mounted thereon a locking pin F which may be engaged with the arm L to hold the brush in elevated position. 40 The weight of the brush is partly countenbalanced by torsional springs M sleeved on the opposite ends of the shaft I. One end of each of these springs is anchored to the bearing N in which said shaft is mounted, while the opposite end is connected to a collar M rotatively adjustable on the shaft and secured by a set screw M By this means the springs may be variably tensioned to produce the desired counterbalancing effect.

The drive mechanism for rotating the brush derives its power from the sprocket B and is of such construction as to permit of adjusting the beam and brush to various angles with respect to the direction of travel. This drive mechanism 55 comprises a chain 0 connecting the sprocket B with a sprocket P on a stub shaft P mounted above one of the side portions C of the frame C. This mounting comprises a housing P which is bolted or otherwise secured at P to the channel side portion C and which contains a pair of beveled gear wheels Q and Q. The gear wheel Q is mounted upon the shaft P and the gear wheel Q on a shaft Q extending out from said housing at an oblique angle to the shaft P. At the end of the rockshaft I Which is on the opposite side of the frame 0 from that on which the shaft Q is mounted, is a bracket bearing R. for a stub shaft R. sprocket S mounted thereon which is connected by a chain S with a sprocket S mounted on the shaft K for the rotary brush K. The bracket R has a split bearing engaging the shaft I rotatively adjustably secured thereto by a clamping screw R so that by such adjustment the slack in the chain S may be taken up. Between the stub shafts Q and R. rotary motion is transmitted through a telescopic or extensible propeller shaft T and a pair of torque transmitting universal joints U and U. Such construction permits of swinging the beam E to different positions of angular adjustment while in every position power will be transmitted from the shaft Q to the shaft R. The propeller shaft T includes a tubular portion T' connected to the universal joint U, a solid portion T connected to the universal joint U, and a spline T for transmitting torque from the one to the other.

The construction as above described is adapted for various uses, such for instance as sweeping snow or other material from the surface of the road or pavement. The beam F is first adjusted into an oblique position and secured by engagement of the pin H with the registering aperture H and the bar H. Such adjustment is permitted by the telescopic action of the portions T and 'I of the propeller shaft T and without interfering with the driving connection. The operator may select the side of the road to which the material is to be swept, as the beam F may be adjusted to either of the limits imposed by the oblique portions C If, however, it is desired to merely brush the material forward, the beam F may be adjusted to extend at right angles to the line of travel and locked in this position.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. A sweeper comprising a power unit including a pair of axially aligned ground engaging wheels, a frame supported by said wheels, a motor supported on said frame, said frame having a forward extension substantially V-shaped in plan, a ground engaging wheel located at the apex of said V, a beam pivotally secured at the apex and angularly adjustable into oblique relation to the line of travel, means for locking said beam in different positions of angular adjustment, 2. rockshaft mounted on said beam, rock arms projecting forward from opposite ends of said rockshaft, a rotary brush journaled between the free ends of said rock arms, and driving connections between said power unit and rotary brush operable in all positions of angular adjustment of said beam.

2. A sweeper comprising a power unit including a pair of axially aligned ground engaging wheels, a frame supported on said wheels, a motor supported on said frame, said frame having a forward extension substantially V-shaped in plan, a ground engaging wheel located at and supporting the apex of said frame, a beam piv- This stub shaft has aotally attached at said apex and adjustable between the limits imposed by the oblique portions of said V-shaped extension, a rockshaft mounted on said beam, rock arms extending forward from said rockshaft, a rotary brush extending between and journaled in said rock arms, means for rocking said shaft to raise or lower said rotary brush, a drive connection between said power unit and rotary brush including a sprocket eccentrically mounted on said rockshaft, a sprocket connected to said rotary brush, and a chain connecting said sprockets, said eccentric mounting being adjustable about said rockshaft to tighten the chain on said sprockets.

3. A sweeper having a pair of axially aligned ground-engaging wheels, a frame supported by said wheels, said frame having a forward exten sion substantially'V-shape in plan, a groundengaging wheel located at the apex of said V and supporting the same, a beam pivotally secured at the apex and angularly adjustable into oblique relation to the line of travel, a rockshaft mounted on said beam, rock arms projecting forward from said rockshaft, and a rotary brush journaled between the rock arms.

4. A sweeper having a pair of ground-engaging wheels, a frame supported by said wheels, said frame having a forward extension substantially V-shape in plan, a ground-engaging wheel located at the apex of said V and supporting the same, a beam for carrying a ground-engaging brush pivotally secured to said extension at the apex thereof and angularly adjustable into oblique relation to the line of travel, and means for locking said beam in different positions of angular adjustment.

5. A sweeper having a pair of ground-engaging wheels, a frame supported on said wheels, said frame having a forward extension substantially V-shape in plan, a ground-engaging wheel located at and supporting the apex of said forward extension, a beam for carrying a ground-engaging brush pivotally mounted on said extension at said apex, a segmental member concentric with said pivotal mounting and carried by said forward extension, and locking means for said segmental member engageable with said forward extension to hold said beam in different positions of angular adjustment.

6. A sweeper having a frame, a beam for carrying a ground-engaging brush pivotally connected to said frame and angularly adjustable relative thereto, a semi-circular bar substantially concentric with the pivotal connection aforesaid, the intermediate portion of said bar slidably engaging said frame, opposite ends of the bar being secured to said beam, and means for locking said beam in different positions of angular adjustment including means carried by the frame and engaging said bar.

7. A sweeper having a frame, a beam angularly adjustable relative to said frame and adapted to support a rotary ground. brush, a supporting caster wheel for the frame, and a connection between the beam and frame including a tubular pivot pin receiving and forming a swivel sleeve for the shank of the caster wheel.

8. A sweeper having a motor frame provided with a pair of ground wheels, said frame having a forward extension, a rotary ground brush extending across and disposed in advance of said frame, a pivotal connection between the forward extension and beam including a plate, a rockshaft extending substantially parallel to and pivotally mounted on said beam, rock arms secured to said shaft at opposite ends thereof, supporting shafts for the brush journaled in said rock arms at their free ends, an arm secured to the rockshaft for rocking said shaft to lift the brush, and a locking element carried by the plate and engageable with the last mentioned arm to hold the brush in elevated position.

9. A sweeper having a motor frame provided with a pair of ground wheels, said frame having a forward extension, a rotary ground brush extending across and disposed in advance of said frame, a pivotal connection between the forward extension and beam including a plate, a rockshaft extending substantially parallel to said beam, bearings for said rockshaft on said beam, rock arms secured to said shaft at opposite ends thereof, supporting shafts for the brush journaled in said rock arms, and means for counterbalancing the brush including collars rotatively adjustable on said rockshaft, and torsional springs sleeved on said rockshaft, one end of each spring being secured to one of the bearings for the shaft, the other end of each spring being secured to one of the collars.

10. A sweeper having a frame provided with a pair of ground-engaging wheels, a tubular pin carried by said frame, a ground-engaging wheel having a shank rotatable within said pin, and a sup-port for a ground-engaging brush mounted to swing about said pin.

11. A sweeper having a frame provided with a pair of ground-engaging wheels, a beam on the frame for carrying a ground-engaging brush, a caster wheel cooperating with the wheels aforesaid for supporting the frame and having a shank, and a pivot pin connecting said beam to the frame, said pivot pin being hollow and forming a swivel socket for the shank of the caster Wheel.

ROBERT W. WAGNER. 

